Israel Unveils a Plastic-Bottle Christmas Tree

Still reeling from the devastating forest fire that recently ravaged northern Israel, the country is gearing up for Christmas celebrations by showcasing a tree made from recycled bottles. The eco-friendly display in the port city of Haifa was built with 5,480 recycled water bottles donated by locals.

Israeli designer Hadas Itzcovitch and her father, Ernest Itzcovitch, created the tree to raise awareness of environmental issues. The green tree should have plenty of admirers — some 90,000 tourists are expected to flock to Israel for Christmas celebrations.

--Della Watson